FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BATES NAMES BOWMAN HEAD VOLLEYBALL COACH

LEWISTON, Maine -- Bates College has named Jennifer Bowman head volleyball coach, Director of Athletics Suzanne Coffey announced today.

Bowman has been head coach at Frostburg (Md.) State University for the past two seasons. In those two years, Bowman led the Bobcats to a combined 72 9 record and a pair of postseason appearances. In her first season at Frostburg State, the Bobcats went 36-4, winning the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) and placing second in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III South volleyball championships. In 1999, Bowman led FSU to second-straight AMCC conference title with a 36-5 record, earning the school's first-ever berth in the NCAA Division III championships. For her efforts last season, Bowman was named NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region Coach of the Year. She has also served as an assistant softball coach at Frostburg State for the past two years.

"I am incredibly excited to start coaching at Bates," Bowman said. "I am eager to become a part of a program with such a successful history, and I look forward to continuing that winning tradition."

A native of Greensboro, Md., Bowman received her bachelor of science degree in geography from Salisbury State University in 1996. She also earned a bachelor of arts in philosophy in 1997 while serving as a graduate assistant for the Sea Gulls' volleyball and softball programs. Bowman was a three-year captain and two-time All-Region selection as a setter in volleyball and a two time captain and All-Region member in softball at Salisbury State. She is SSU's all-time leader in service aces and second on the all-time assist list.

Bowman takes over a squad that finished 1999 with a 33-6 record. Bates has won the past two ECAC Division III North Championships. The Bobcats return New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) Player of the Year and two-time AVCA All-Region setter Kate Hagstrom.

For more information on Bates Volleyball, please visit our website at http://www.bates.edu/sports/volleyball.html